Key Verse 8:37
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
In this passage, we learn we are God’s creation that suffers through pain and frustration. We moan and groan everyday because of many reasons. Some of us experience disappointments, health issues, broken relationships and the power of death. It is easy to become a victim and say “Why me? Why not that other guy?” God did not make us victims, but conquerors. He sent his Son Jesus to conqueror sin and death, so that we can have life in the Spirit. God's spirit enables us to be more than conquerors. May God bless each of you this Easter to be more than conquerors through Jesus Christ!
First, Groaning in a curse world (20-27)
How does Paul describe our present situation in this world? Look at verse 20 "For the creation was subjected to frustration" Verse 21 says the world is in bondage to decay. Verse 22 says “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." When God created the world, it was paradise. There was nothing to groan about! Adam and Eve had fellowship with God. Adam and Eve were on an eternal honeymoon like Michelle and I. In the garden, God respected man and gave him freewill. God gave Adam and Eve the choice to obey him or not. We were not created to be robots like the terminator. God gave us freewill. Instead of using our freewill to obey God, we gave in to the devil's temptation of pride and to be like God. As a result, sin came into the world. The word sin in Greek means “To miss the mark.” Instead of being noble human beings, as God created us to be. We missed the mark and resembled brutal animals like the wolf man. Instead of practicing God’s love to others, we practiced pride, jealous, hatred and murder. Because of our sin-stained nature, we transformed the beautiful creation and subjected it to death, frustration, and decay and groaning. I have never experience childbirth. But as Paul said life can be very painful like childbirth. We are born as cute babies like Little Luke Fitch, but as we grow, our bones ache, we lose our hair, our teeth and will eventually die. Another reason we groan is because we rejected God and placed our hope in this perishing world. We work hard to achieve our goals in life. We make money, our careers, our possessions and even our children as our ultimate hope. According to 1 Peter 1:4 all these things perish, spoil or fade away. A few months ago, the people of Northern Japan lost everything in one afternoon after a devastating tsunami. There is no end to our groaning and frustration. Where can we find comfort from our groaning?
Second, Jesus groaned for us so we may rejoice (verses 24-32)
Let us read verse 28-30 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."
We learn the root of our groaning comes from sin and death. Our groaning reached all the way to heaven. God could have ignored us and said, “They get what they deserve!” But what did God do? Let us read verse 31, 32, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” All fathers want their sons to be successful. No father wants their son to suffer and die, especially for ungrateful people. According to verse 28, our Heavenly father worked for our good. God did not spare even his only son for us! In verse 30, we see the word "justified." What does this mean? Justification is the act of declaring or making a sinner righteous before God. It is "Just-as-if-you-have-not-sinned." Once I was caught speeding on the highway. I tried to be nice to the state trooper so he won’t give me a ticket. But he still gave me 110.00 dollar ticket. I sinned against the state of Missouri Law. In the same way, God cannot declare us justified. Why? Because we sinned in our actions, in our minds and hearts. We have over 1 million sin violations to pay. Another problem is sin can't be paid with money, but with blood. The Bible says without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. We need to pay the penalty for our sins. No amount of good works or money can make us right with God.
How are we justified? God sent Jesus to justify us! In other words, Jesus came to pay the penalty of our sins with his blood. Jesus groaned in the Garden of Gethsemane to take up the cup of suffering. Jesus groaned and cried as the Roman soldiers beat, mocked and crucified him. Jesus groaned on the cross and said "Father forgive them." Jesus took upon his body the punishment of sin that we fully deserve. Jesus died the death that we fully deserve. Jesus dying on the cross is an act of undeserved grace. We did nothing, Jesus did everything! Because Jesus died for me, I am justified before God. Because of God’s grace, we don’t have to groan and moan anymore. Verse 30 says we are also “glorified”. In other words, we no longer resemble the wolf man but bear the image of Jesus! How is this possible? My sinful and wicked heart is replaced with Jesus’ righteousness and grace. My groaning and moaning is replaced by rejoicing and thanksgiving for what Christ has done! Fear of death is replaced by the glorious resurrection of Christ Jesus. Praise God for what Christ has done!
Third, We are more than conquerors
When we accept the gospel, will everything become smooth sailing? Sure, we are changed inwardly, but outward things stay the same or will get worse. We still have to live in this cursed world. We still face disappointments and all kinds of grief. After the conference, we have to face our annoying boss at work, annoying kids we teach at school, our health issues and many other things. But the gospel changes our perspective in life. God’s love changes our perspective in life! What did Paul experience? Was his life smooth sailing when he became a Christian? Not at all! Look at Verse 35, 36. Paul experienced: trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger and sword. He described his life as a sheep going to the slaughter house.
What did Paul say? Did he say he was a victim? No! Let us read verse 37 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” What is a conqueror? It is one who is not defeated. There are many conquerors in history like Alexander the Great or Genghis Khan. But both of them were conquered by their demons and by the ultimate enemy: death. Only Jesus is ultimate conqueror. Jesus conquered sin by taking our place on the cross. Jesus conquered death by his resurrection.
Let us read verses 38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Through Jesus’ resurrection, He defeated the power of sin and death. Jesus victory is our victory!
In spite of Paul’s hardship, he never lived as a victim. He lived as a conqueror. He was convinced of the love of Christ Jesus. When children are convinced of their parent’s love, they are happy and confident. How much more for those who are sure of God’s unfailing love? When one is sure of God’s love, then nothing can separate or shake them. God’s love is like a firewall that protects against the viruses of doubt and fears in the heart of a Christian. Nothing, not even death can separate us from the love of Christ. With Christ Love, he helps me to conqueror my complaining heart with a heart of thankfulness. With Christ love, he helps me to conqueror my hatred and love those who hurt me. With Christ love, he helps me to conqueror my despair when I fail. With Christ love, he helps me to smile and have an eternal hope even before death.
I graduated from Western Illinois University in 2005. Afterwards, I went to Lincoln Christian Seminary in 2006. Seminary was difficult, because the Greek language was “greek” to me. I failed and had to drop out. I was depressed and felt like a victim. But God helped me to believe that “God works for the good.” God helped me to conquer my disappointment. I went back to WIU. In 2007, I began to attend Sunday worship service. Later, Pastor Jim Rabchuk introduced me to Michelle, my future wife. I learn that even in my failure, God worked for the good!
In summary, let us examine our hearts? Do you feel you are a victim or a conqueror? Does life’s hardships, your sins and other things cause you to groan and moan? Do you feel unloved? I pray this Easter you may be convinced of Christ’s love who died for you and conquered sin and death. May God bless each you to be more than conquerors.
